The project concerns the development of a comprehensive Strategic Plan for the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki (AMTh), which is the first museum in Greece to apply a participatory methodology for its strategic planning. The aim of the strategic plan is to strengthen the operational functioning of AMTh, with key priorities being transparency, sustainability, effective management of available resources, enhancement of outward-looking activity, and the establishment of the museum as a model cultural institution at both national and international levels.

The operational plan is based on the participation of the community and stakeholders, incorporating the principles of cross-sectoral collaboration, social cohesion, and sustainable development. Through participatory processes, the goal is to shape a functional, flexible, and innovative framework for cultural management.

The development of the strategic plan includes:

• Systematic literature review and documentation of existing practices in Greece and abroad
  
  
• Research on participatory cultural policies and collection of best practices in museum management
  
  
• Writing the methodology developed by MENTOR for participatory strategic planning
  
  
• Qualitative and quantitative research of AMTh's audience and non-audience, as well as interviews with staff, collaborators, and institutional stakeholders
  
  
• Organization of participatory workshops with representatives from the local community, cultural organizations, educational institutions, and the wider artistic community
  
  
• Final drafting of the Strategic Plan based on the analysis of all the above stages, ready for evaluation and adoption by the museum.

MENTOR, with long-standing experience in the field of cultural strategy, communication, and management, is responsible for the design and implementation of the project at the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, within the framework of a contract under the Cultural Sponsorship scheme of the Ministry of Culture.

This collaboration enables the pilot application of a strategic plan that will set operational standards and a practical framework for museums and cultural organizations in Greece, highlighting the public character of the museum, strengthening its social role, and integrating citizens' voices into the planning process.

The Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki is the first cultural institution to implement this specific methodology, aiming to establish this experience as a model and reference point for the wider museum and cultural sector in the country.